Round refrigerator



May 12, 1953 spo'r'rs 2,638,400

' ROUND REFRIGERATQR 7 Filed Sept. 27, 1948 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 InventorLee E. Spa/rs Wm WWW y 1953 E. SPOTTS ROUND REFRIGERATOR Fi led Sept.27, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor Lee E. Spot/s I 72 74 B; m

MM W

Patented May 12, .1953

ROUND REFRIGERATOR Lee E. Spotts, Slater, Mo., assignor of one-half toWilliam H. Ferguson, St. Louis, Mo.

Application September 27, 1948, Serial No. 51,375

This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a roundrefrigerator and more specifically pertains to a novel construction ofrefrigerator having circular, axially rotatable, removable traystherein.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a refrigeratorwhich shall be of compact construction, and smooth internal and externalsurfaces to minimize accumulation of dirt thereon, and wherein greateraccess may be had to all of the storage shelf space within therefrigerator. An important feature of the invention resides in theprovision of a cylindrical type of refrigerator having an arcuate doortherefor, together with a removable axially disposed supporting rodwithin the refrigerating chamber, and with a compartment below therefrigerating chamber for housing the motor compressor unit of thecirculating refrigeratory system.

A further important feature of the invention resides in the provision ofa, refrigerator as set forth in the foregoing feature, wherein the axialsupport rod is provided with a longitudinally slidable and telescopingfastening member whereby the rod may be readily mounted in therefrigerator in a rotating manner, or removed therefrom with ease andcelerity.

A still further feature of the invention resides in the provision of arefrigerator as set forth in the foregoing paragraphs wherein thesupport rod is provided with a plurality of vertically disposed supportshoulders, for selectively supporting a plurality of circular shelves ortrays for storing articles within the refrigerator, and wherein thetrays are rotatable to bring any desired portion thereof into registerwith the door of the refrigerator for easy removal or insertion ofarticles for storage in the refrigerator.

Yet another feature of the invention resides in the provision of animproved, circular tray having semi-circular pivoted sections which maybe selectively clamped upon the axial support rod 1 Claim. (01. 312-305)Figure 2 is a vertical central longitudinal sectional view through theembodiment of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional plan view taken substantially uponthe plane of the section line 3-3 of F gure 2; I

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional plan view taken substantially uponthe plane of the section line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective group assembly view of one of the pivoted,removable trays, together with brace rods therefor; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view takensubstantially upon the plane of the section line 6-6 of Figure 2 andillustrating the construction of the detachable rod fastening means.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings, whereinlike numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, thenumeral I0 indicates the housing or casing forming the refrigerationwhich preferably consists of a'substantially cylindrical member which ifdesired may be provided with a fiat top wall [2 which is preferablyintegral therewith, and

with an arcuately shaped door [4 mounted as by hinges 16 upon the casingor housing l0 and provided with any suitable form of latch and handlemeans l8.

As will be seen best by reference to Figure 2, the refrigerator housingor casing I0 is provided with an internal lining 20 of insulatingmaterial of any suitable type and construction, together with an innershell 22 which may be of metallic composition, enamelled or otherwiseconditioned, the insulating lining being retained between the outercasing l0 and the inner lining 22. This cuter shell, inner shell andinsulating lining may be of any one of various known constructionssuitable for heat insulating and refrigerating purposes.

Similarly, the door I4 is provided with an insulating lining 24, and aninner metallic coating 26. The door is preferably provided with amarginal flange 28 which may be slightly inturned, to assist inretaining and compressing a gasket 30 between the flange of the door andthe wall of the casing l0 adjacent the door opening, to provide aninsulating seal of a compressible nature at this location, in accordancewith well known.

practice.

The lower end of the refrigerator casing or housing I0 is open, as willbe seen from Figure 2, and is preferably provided with a partitionindicated at 32 which consists of inner and outer metallic walls 34 and36, between which is interposed insulating coating or lining 38,substantially similar to the other insulated wall construction of thedevice. This partition 32 is secured in any desired manner in thechambered interior of the cylindrical casing l and preferably upwardlyor vertically above the lower extremity thereof, which extremity isclosed as by a flanged annular metal plate 40, the flange 42 of whichmaybe secured'in anyi.desire'cl=..mannere:on the inner "surface of thecasing to. 'The-space between the bottom 40 and the partition 32 forms achamber 44 in which is housed the motor compressor unit indicated by thenumeralw ifi-s-for -circulating a refrigerant or coolant throughoutthecirculatory system of the refrigerator, notishown, all this constructionbeing of conventionap design, this unit having a coolingianditl whichpasses cooling air through the chamber '44 for cooling the mechanismhoused thereingby'imeans of a screen at the fback of the refrigeratorrandzas-louvered front wall 'EZat therfrontside athereof.

=IDisposed vertically, -.centraliy and axially of :the ecylindricalchamber -.of the refrigerator housing to is a support rod r58 wwhoselower iend -is rdetaohably r-received (in an axially --.disp'osed:sccket :m-ember s56 suitably mounted upon the partition 32, while theupper .endis-detachably nreceived win ..a :similar..soc1ret=-58 secured.to :;the

mndersurtace of the top wall it. *In order :to

facilitate the insertion of -.the support and Iinto.itslretaining-socketsltfi and 58, and is remov-..ab-le-.'therefrom-.-as-desired, :a detachable fastening .is .providedwhose -tconstruction is indicatedin detailintFig-iirefi. This fasteningconsists of a sleeve 60 of sufiicient length to telescopeover the supperend of athezrod 154, :this .sleeve having a .chamberdiZ within which:is. received a compressioncspring t l which-yieldingly. urges tthesleeve =60 eupwardlywith respect 'toathe IOdciid. At. its ,upper end;the sleeve 60 1s, provided with a diametricallytreduced extremity 36which slid- :ablyreceived.in theaaxial bore v ta lor the-sockettmemhercfi8. xThe=proportioned-the partszis such sthat by-gpressing the.sleeve 452 vdownwardly upon (the rod-54, thereby compressing the spring.64: in its chamber 2, athe upper end of .the reduced portion 66 of thefastener will be lowered :and withdrawn from .the .bore: Eraser-the.rupper: socket L-member .58, whereby the rod may he wi frorn-dtsupper-socket andlthereby' from: the lower .lsocket. Qbviouslyfthereverse-operation permits installation of. the .rod: as desired, randit will: he .seenathat the rod :may be :rotatably secured. in

lathe sockets by i this .manner, although. if rotation vis..notidesired.one end oflthe rod-could hes uared .aacorrespondinglyshapedsocket -to prevent .rotation lthereof.

,jAt yarious longitudinally spaced positions along'its length, therod'54 is preferably provided with integral .or rigidlyattached.col-lars. or shoulders :10 which .serve to .support annular-trayswhoseconstruction.isnow-to be described.

Referrin chiefly to Figure -5,.-it will' be .seen that l the .annulartrays Q disclosed in connection 'with'this invention, and indicated,generally by the .nnmeral 112, are circular-aim shape :and; pro- .yidedwith marginalupstanding-side.walls. The base .;of these ltrays comprises.a pair of semicirciilarmembers M, preferably iormedotstifi securedithereto 'Lto form ,a supporting \and :re- 1 taining surface. but,permitthe .reaclyfiow 10f lair andliquids therethrough, .thesemiecircular .rim :or the bases "T4 let .the atrays having rigidly.wire .or the like, with .screen or ,grille material 4 attachedsemi-circular side walls 76. The bottom rims i8 together with the toprims of the two semi-circular tray sections, are provided with eyes orloops 82 at their ends for receiving 5 a hinge pin 84, of any suitableconstruction,

about which the tray sections may be moved pivotally to open or closethe sections, which may be retained by any suitable type of snapfastener ifiion'theseh'ds 6f the wellls' ilWWliibh are opposite thehinge 8d. "The bottom rim lfidi 'the tray sections, upon theirdiametrical edges and at "their centers, are provided with concaved,looped tor .oifsetportions 88 which in their entirety define a circularopening which may be received upon' ithefro'd 5A, iIhus, to apply a trayto the :support':rcd754,2it is merely necessary to open the refrigeratordoor It, to open the tray sections about'their pivot "hinge 84, insertthe tray, each section .at a time through the opening, which may therebybe of less "width than the diameter .of =the.assembled tray, thereafter.clamp the-tray .hhout -.the..rod. ahov.e .the proper support .lcollar itthereon andtcloselthelatchtfi, whereby :the tray -is.-.assernhiedretained, .ro tatably, ,upon the support rod. To assist .insteadyingt-andreinforcingathe tray in. its positiom. a. pair of 1diarmetricall-y disposed brace rods J90 ..are provided r-having.central. looped .or coiled portions .92 .that canv-belrotatably.received .uponthe...rod EM .above the .tray, and with downwardly .turnedsnapped fastening hook portions .94 which may be: snapped v.cn .theupper. rim 86 0f .thetray sections to. therebyv supportand steady the.trayupon the. support .rod. Thus theltray. has. actual.v contact =.with.the support red ..at .its central supporting .loops .88, 'd 1 the.reinforcinglloops 92, to thereby .steady e -tray upon .thezsupport.rodand ,perrnit free .rotatiormf the tray .thereon.

'As shown in Figure ..2,. ad,i.acentitsupper. end, and .if desired.dependingliirom the top it of ..the .re'frigeratonis-a refrigerating.or. freezing. chamber.or compartment .of ..any..conventionaldesignindicated. bythe numeral 945, and whichis connected to ..the circulatoryrefrigerating system, by conduits .nothhown. Extending radiallyinwardlyfrom theinterior-wallof the-refrigerator, below the "freezing..compar.tment 1M3 are plurality of inwardly extending .Llugs or.projections T918, which serve toremovably support agenerally circular,grilledshelf mil which may be of wire .screening or .mesh provided,with a .marginal wire rim 116.2 which i-slreceivable upon the .lugsPreferably, the'shelf Hi0 isprovided-witlra "cutaway ..p.ortion .Uliiadapted .:to underlie the freezing chamber 35.

LETon-fthe."foregoing, the construction, opera-- tionand advantages .ofthe. device will Joe readily app arent and further. explanations is.believed .-to be unnecessary.

However, since rnimerous modifications and changestwillreadily.occurto.thcseskilledm the .-.ar.t afterla. consideration ofthe foregoing speciheation and accompanying drawings; it 2.13 not Adesired .to limit the invention to the exact;- con-- struction .shownenddescribed, .but all .--.s.uitable modifications:andmquivalents maycberesorted to ltalling ivithin' :thBsSCQDE .0f "-the ;.app endcd-fclaim.-Having described the rinvention, what ".is ,claimedesnew is:

A refrigerator- .comprising a "cylindrical vhousing, .--an. axialisupport .rod in'. said housing aiplurality of rigidly attached traysupporting:shoul- .ders ton ...said .rod, annular strays adetachablymounted .onrsaid shoulders .anderotatable xabout said rod, each ofsaid-traysincludingel-pairaof 5 semi-circular sections of materialpervious to fluids, said sections being hinged together at one end anddetachably fastened at the opposite end, each section being provided attheir centers with an offset portion, said ofiset portions defining acircular opening receiving the rod, tray reinforcing brace rodsincluding central portions embracing the support rod and rotatablethereon, and end fastening portions engaging the rim of said trays atopposite points.

LEE E. SPO'I'IS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberNumber 6 Name Date Pearson May 17, 1892 Joyce Mar. 28, 1911 RoppenekerFeb. 13, 1912 Goldsmith Apr. 20, 1915 Babione Dec. 26, 1916 Banks Jan.14, 1919 McClanahan Mar. 26, 1929 Limerick Dec. 24, 1935 Passmore Aug.13, 1936 Clare 1- May 15, 1945 Roberts Oct. 18, 1949 Jackson Oct. 2 1,1950

